Method and apparatus for shirring sausage casings or the like



Martgh 5, 1935. A. Q HEWITT 'A l 1,993,480

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR lSHIIRRING SAUSAGE CASINGS OR THE LIKE FiledJune s, 1934 nii whichcondition, these `sections are in Fig. 4. WhenPatented Mar. 5, 19.35

METHOD AND Alfred G. Visking tion of Virginia APPARATUS SAUSAGE CASINGS0R Hewitt, Chicago, Corporation, Chicago,

FOR SHIRRING THE LIKE Ill., assignor to The Ill., a corpora- ApplicationJune 8, 1934, Serial No. 729,727

5 Claims.

- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for shirringsausage-casings, or the like. It is particularly adapted to thepackaging of cellulose ca sings, ordinarily manufactured in the form ofcontinuous tubes. Such tubes may be cut into suitable lengths, say alength of about 32 feet; and a section of tubing of the length mentionedmay be conveniently shirred upon a mandrel so as to occupy a space ofabout 12 inches in length. u

The tubing may be removed from the shirringmandrel onto a wooden rod, ordowel, for example. It may be shipped to sausage-makers in thiscondition, or may be otherwise packaged for shipment.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method forfacilitating the shirring operation.

The manner of practicing the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in

Fig. l is a broken elevational view of apparatus adapted to the practiceof the process, illustrating the shirring operation; Fig. 2 is a view ofthe apparatus with the casing in shirred condition on theshirring-mandrel; Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken vertical view showing theformation of the shirring-mandrel; Fig. 4 is a broken section taken asindicated at line 4 of Fig. 3.y

In the illustration given, A designates a suitable standard; B, acollapsible hollow mandrel supported by said standard; C, a device forexpanding the mandrel; D, a table for supporting a length of casing; ortubing; and E, the casing, or tubing, which is shown in process ofshirring in Fig. 1 and shown in completely shirred condition in Fig. 2.

The standard A is provided at its upper end with a horizontal opening 1through which the collapsible mandrel extends.

The mandrel B is shown as comprising a xedly mounted lower section 2 anda vertically reciprocable upper section 3. In the expanded separated bylongitudinal slots 4. A removable tip 5 is applied to the expandedmandrel. Preferably the tip has its point provided with an air-outlet 5,The tip may be removed to permit the shirred casing to be removed afterthe mandrel has been collapsed. The upper section 3 of the mandrel isequippedwith ring-sections 3a which slidably embrace the upper portionof the standard A.

The expanding device C is in the nature of a cam having the elongatedcross-section shown the long axis is perpendicular,

the mandrel is in expan horizontal, the mandrel m The mandrel B ishollow, therethrough and, emergi ded condition; and when ay becollapsed. so that air may pass slots 4,

expand the casing E before and while it 1s being shirred. An air tube 6,connected with a source, of very low pressure air, supplies lightpressure to the interior of the mandrel, and, hence, to the interior ofthe casing.

7 of the exp jects rearwardly through th The shank anding -device C proerear end of the mandrel and is equlpped with a handle 'la by means ofwhich the exp about its axis.

. A cup or gland embraces the sh 8, which may ank 'l of the air the rearend of the mandrel.

In the operation of slips one end of mandrel, thus covering the mandrel.At this a pressure of air pressure is mandrel, say a square inch, morethe cellulose or less.

of keeping the inner wall of contact with the mandrel durst'antially outof ing the shirring operation.

anding device may time, or earlier A dmitted to the interior of theone-half pound per This has be turned be of rubber, preferably envelopsthe rear end of the mandrel and expanding device;

against escape from the device, the operator tubing E onto the ifdesired,

the tubing E sub- Also, air escaping through the orifice 5a in the tipof the mandrel gradually opens by the operator drel. The shirrin of themandr to the tip of the m portion wardly progresses.

After the oper up the flat tubing tip 5 maybe removed and the Theshirred casing dowel-pin, will serve to support the mandrel onto ashirred casing to ation may be The expedient um, such as air,

work, and avoids ly, such casings, eter sizes, have which facilitatesthe mandrel an mandrel is of The invention for shipment purposes,

the mang is accomplished at the basev el and gradually extends forandrelas the operation wooden rod, which shirred casing, either or forconveying the the point where a further operperformed.

of introducing a gaseous mediunder light pressure greatly fainjury tothe cilitates the shirring operation,

expedites the casing. Frequentparticularly in the small-diamawall-thickness of a than 1/ 1000 of an inch. Accordingly,

little less a method the splipping ofthe tubing onto great advantagedescribed is d the shirring operation on the in the art. hereillustrated in the simplest form. It may be practiced in other and morecomplicated embodiments.

It is preferred, of course, to maintain a lm, or layer, of air, betweenthe mandrel and the tubing which is being shirred thereon. However,other suitable gaseous medium may be employed for the purpose, ifdesired. Ordinarily, the casing is substantially dry while the shirringis being effected. That is, the casing is dry to the feel, although itmay have a slight amount of moisture hygroscopically contained therein.

'I'he foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art. Y

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A process casing which is being shirred.

2. A process as stated in claim l, as practiced by maintaining a lightinternal pressure in the `drel tip, thus vstandard upon which a tubingportion of the casing being shirred on the mandrel and admittingpressure to that portion of the casing which is being drawn onto themantending to open the casing.

3. A tubing-shirring process which comprises drawing a flattened drytubing onto a mandrel shirring of the tubing while maintaining a lightinternal air pressure in the portion of the tubing on the mandrel and inthe portion of the tubing about to be slipped onto the mandrel.

4.- A shirring apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising astandard, a collapsible tubular mandrel mounted upon the upper portionof said may be shirred, said mandrel having means for emitting a gaseousfluid to maintain a gaseous layer` between the mandrel and the tubingbeing shirred thereon, and means for supplying a gaseous medium ofshirring dry sausage-casings,

under pressure to the interior of said collapsible mandrel.

5. Apparatus as speciiled in claim 4, combined with a mandrel-expandingdevice within the mandrel and equipped outsideI the mandrel with anactuating handle.

ALFRED G. HEWITI

